Choose from over 35 sessions covering specific crop and animal cultivation techniques, farm-wide management and production strategies, and business and marketing savvy.

Plus check out the two-day Trade Show, including the Friday evening cocktail hour with live music by 1000 Watt Prophets and NEW dinner ticket option. Also, we announce the return of the Farmer Bulletin Board and Seed Lounge, as well as a locally-certified lunch on both days.

The Long Memory Project aimed to connect community elders with young artists to share stories of action and activism around the environment, peace and justice. The works created from this gathering will be performed for the public by musiciansSeth Bernard, Sam Cooper and Zach Watson, and writersJaime Delp andAmber Edmondson.

Join Crosshatch, Blackbird Arts and Higher Art Gallery for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

We are excited to partner with woman-owned and operated Higher Arts Gallery in Traverse City in October. This fall evening, we desire to stir the conversation around women in art—the opportunities as well as the challenges. Artists of all genres are encouraged to attend for a full dialogue on the past, present and future role of women artists.

Join Crosshatch, Blackbird Arts and Here:Say Storytelling for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

September brings fall and fall is bringing out the storytellers. This month we partner with Here:Say Storytelling, the local live storytelling show, for a discussion on the art of storytelling. Gather around with drinks and eats at The Workshop Brewing Company to learn how storytelling transcends 'interesting' to 'art form.' As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists.

On Saturday September 15th from 10:00AM - 3:00pm at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station (Bingham Township), the Grand Traverse Beekeeping Club (GT Bees) is hosting a day of presentations and activities. This event is open to all including farmers, beekeepers and people interested to start keeping bees. Register until September 12th at bit.ly/beefair.

Join Vic Lane of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy for a Twilight tour at the iconic Maple Bay Farm. See where farming meets conservation with a discussion and tour of pollinator planting, grassland bird habitat and wetland protection. We'll also discuss soil fertility through cover crops, site prep and no-till efforts, with plenty of time to meet and connect with other farmers.

Walk through Kirk and Mati Dillon's young permaculture garden. They will cover the concept of permaculture and how it differs from typical farming. See their over 125 varieties of perennial and annual plants, and trees and shrubs in a "food forest" format and learn about time, planting zones, companion planting, tree guilds, living fences, rocket stoves and rocket mass heaters.

See this beautiful hop farm in action! What started out as a purchase of a cherry farm for camping has turned into the Michigan Hop Alliance, a small 30 acre hop farm owned and operated by Brian and Amy Tennis. Michigan previously wasn't known as a hop growing region, but our 45th parallel location proved ideal. View the 12 hops varieties and learn about how the flavor of hops dictates the beer.

Hands-on, full-day, on-farm conferences are coming this year. In addition to workshops with expert teachers, Crosshatch Field Schools will include one-on-one consulting with farm experts, a local food lunch, and a post-workshop social networking hour. Registration is open!

Farm School Summer Tracks:Animals on the Small Farm with Ryan RomeynMarket Your Farm with Andrea RomeynHoophouse Growing with Austin Weed and Stacy Sangsland

Join Crosshatch and Blackbird Arts for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

This month we'll be at Art Rapids! We will convene for an evening of eats, drinks, and conversation around art of all kinds. Join us for a guided tour of their Walk of Art Outdoor Sculpture Park followed by drinks and conversation at Pearls New Orleans Kitchen. As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists.

Hop in the cart and see the various varieties of lavender on Lavender Hill Farm (10,000 plants and 23 different varieties!) and learn how it has grown and cultivated for superior quality. Included will be special demonstrations at the lavender drying shed as well as the distillation process for lavender oil. The farm gift shop will be open that night. Lavender products and local artisan crafts will be for sale.

For six seasons Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers has been growing hundreds of varieties of cut flowers, herbs and edible flowers. Join Michelle Shackleford for a farm tour through the flower fields for a real hands-on visual on flower farming. See how she traverses such farming obstacles as seed starting, field prep, planting and harvesting and soil fertility.

Join Blackbird Arts and Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology as we celebrate summer and writers.

This month we'll be at L. Mawby Vineyards for a Write-in. Partake in an evening of bubbles, conversation, and writing. We'll provide the space with some eats and drinks, you provide any current pieces you’d like to work on amongst the vineyard scape. As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow writers.

Join us at picturesque Gabriel Farms to hear the story of how they established their diverse fruit crops, get an update on the dreaded spotted wing Drosophila, and hear about the potential for chestnuts in Northern Michigan.

Gather with us for a tour of Daybreak Dreamfarm. Farmers, Kelly Doyle and Patrick Scharinger, will take us through their small, diversified farm operation, highlighting their production of shiitake, oyster and lion’s mane mushrooms. The tour will also include a walk-about through the hoophouses, fields and gardens to discuss small-scale veggie and flower production.

In collaboration with Oryana, join us for an informational gathering bringing together small farmers or anyone interested in becoming a small farmer to discuss resources available.

The Small Farm Guilds are organized by farmers for farmers, though anyone who desires to farm is welcome to join. This guild’s activities include farm tours, informal workshops, member potlucks, meet and greets over drinks, and shared purchases. Sunday, June 24, 7 - 8:30 pm (meet at Oryana's green roof gazebo by the cafe picnic tables)

This workshop is FREE but registration is required. Please call Customer Service at 947-0191 or stop by the store. You can also sign up at eventbrite.com.

Join Blackbird Arts and Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology as we take to the road and head for Central Lake for an on-farm Artist After Hours.

This month we'll be at Providence Farm for a "veggie sketch" — an evening of drinks, conversation, and veggie drawing. Get inspired by the beauty of Providence Farm and have some fun drawing vegetable still-lifes picked from the garden that day. We'll provide some drawing materials, or you can bring your own. As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists.

Start your summer off learning some new skills, gathering with other curious folks and moonlight dancing in the beautiful Earthwork farmscape.

In partnership with Earthwork Farm and Human Nature School, we present a full day of hands-on workshops, followed by dinner and live music. Choose from 20 classes in the categories of Earth, Art, Tinkering, and the Real Home Ec — taught by the community for the community.

Join Blackbird Arts and Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology as we tour the studio of Glenn Wolff, local and nationally recognized artist.

This month Artist After Hours attendees will get a fortuitous glimpse into the studio and works of Glenn Wolff. As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artist with eats, drinks, and conversation.

Hands-on, full-day, on-farm conferences are coming this year. In addition to workshops with expert teachers, Crosshatch Field Schools will include one-on-one consulting with farm experts, a local food lunch, and a post-workshop social networking hour.

Field School Spring features these three tracks: mushroom production with Bernie Ware, beekeeping with Charlotte Hubbard and fruit production with Trevor Newman.

Ignite your passion for the artistry of beekeeping. Join a local expert from Crosshatch's Bee Guild for a free demonstration and learn how to start on your path to beekeeping and how to foster the local pollinator population. If you're so inspired, Guild members can answer questions about their group and will be offering free sign-ups. This event is free, but pre-registration is preferred.

Join Blackbird Arts and Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology as we plant ourselves at The Little Fleet from some spring tonic.

This month we’ve partnered with a local illustrator to organize a life drawing night at The Little Fleet! We’ll provide the materials and models, you bring some friends and some beer money. As always, there will be plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists.

Join Crosshatch and Blackbird Arts for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

This month Artist After Hours sets their sights on film — at the STATE THEATRE! We are very excited to partner with this Traverse City icon for a collection of short films called “The Power of Nature” series from Stone Hut Studios and Heart of the Lakes about individuals whose lives have been deeply affected by living near The Great Lakes. We will walk to Olives and Wine for some unscheduled time to network with fellow artists.

Join Crosshatch and Blackbird Arts for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

This month we invite you out to an evening of eats, drinks, and conversation around art of all kinds. At this AAH we will have multiple stations set up at Blackbird Arts for artists to try out a new art form. Try out screenprinting, letterpress, copper enameling and the pottery wheel. Or just enjoy unstructured time to network with other local artists.

Artist After Hours is a social event for artists of all genres — writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers. Artist After Hours supports the collaboration of artists and encourages mutual support within a peer-to-peer network. Get inspired, ask questions, meet your neighbors, and have some fun.

ABOUT BLACKBIRD ARTS:

Blackbird Arts is a creative force for inclusive arts education and community engagement through the arts.

NMSFC

The Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference (NMSFC) promotes and builds a local vibrant agriculture community, equips the small farm community with the tools to be successful, and provides a forum for the open exchange of ideas within the small farm community. The conference routinely brings in more than 1,000 small farmers from across the state to gather, learn and network in Northern Michigan.

The 19th Annual NMSFC is bringing speakers and teachers from all over the country to provide more than 35 sessions on various food and farming topics. The conference features a two-day Trade Show that will be open to the public and Friday night festivities, including a Keynote Address by Richard Wiswall (author of the Organic Farmer's Business Handbook) and a social dance with a live band.

FARM SCHOOL

Now in its 3rd year, Farm School has become a vital part of the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. Focusing on advanced education and in-depth learning, Farm School runs all day on the Friday of the Northern Michigan Small Farm Conference. For those growers looking for intensive education, Farm School provides a full day of learning in three categories. 2018’s Farm School topics are:

Join Crosshatch and Blackbird Arts for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

This month Artist After Hours takes to the road and we arrive at Elvyn Lodge in Boyne City for an evening of eats, drinks, and conversation around the fiber arts. Bring a project you’re working on, enjoy the fire, and hunker down for some winter camaraderie with unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists or just working on your current piece.

Artist After Hours is a social event for artists of all genres — writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers. Artist After Hours supports the collaboration of artists and encourages mutual support within a peer-to-peer network. Get inspired, ask questions, meet your neighbors, and have some fun.

ABOUT ELVYN LODGE:

Elvyn Lea Lodge (pronounced "Elvin Lee" ) occupies a unique niche in northern Michigan lodging. Its floor plan and size allow for exclusive use by a single group. The lodge and grounds provide an ideal setting for retreats, workshops, reunions, and other gatherings of families, friends, and colleagues. Rooms for individual travelers and smaller groups may also be available for convenient online booking.

Join Crosshatch and Blackbird Arts for Artist After Hours—a social event for artists of all genres: writers, visual artists, musicians, performers, and designers.

This month we invite you out to an evening of eats, drinks, and conversation around art of all kinds. Pick up some holiday gifts for your loved ones while supporting local makers. There will be art to purchase from the Blackbird Arts instructors, as well as plenty of unscheduled time for networking with fellow artists.

Fourth Wednesdays of the month, farmers and beginning farmers of the Small Farm Guild of East Bay informally meet in downtown Bellaire for lively conversation around farming. You’re bound to hear about how to resolve a pest issue, learn about a new source for equipment, or explore ways to team up with fellow farmers on orders, projects or shared work. Come on down!

This is a free event.

For more info, contact Jen. For more information on guilds, check out our guild page.

Join Crosshatch and Taste the Local Difference for a meet and greet with area chefs and farmers. Enjoy a Workshop Brewing Company beer while you make connections and network with fellow farmers and food industry professionals. Bring a business card and leave with new relationships our area's food & farming network.

Are you a farmer, chef, food buyer, or distributor who would like to be included in this meet and greet? Please get in touch with Jen Harris at your earliest convenience!